by George ‘El Guapo’ Roush on latinoreview.com
With Disney’s announcement of ‘Pirates 4’ being called ‘On Stranger Tides’, I immediately searched for a book of the same name figuring the title was just too strange to have appeared out of nowhere.
In 1988, a book by Tim Powers called ‘On Stranger Tides’ was published. It’s a fantasy book that won the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel in 1988 and was also nominated for The World Fantasy award. Asked if the new ‘Pirates 4’ has anything to do with the novel of the same name, Tim Powers’ literary agent wouldn’t officially comment on it, but he told: “…I can tell you it is not a coincidence.”
Cool! So will the movie follow the plot of the book or simply borrow elements from it? I know it involves the Fountain of Youth and the Fountain of Youth was mentioned at the end of the 3rd Pirates movie.
Here’s the synopsis from Wikipedia:
The book follows the exploits of John ‘Jack Shandy’ Chandagnac, who travels to the new world after the death of his puppeteer father to confront his uncle, who apparently has made off with the family inheritance. During the voyage, he gets to know a woman named Beth Hurwood and her father, an Oxford professor. Before they arrive, their ship is waylaid by pirates and, with the help of the professor and his assistant, the captain is killed and Chandagnac is forced to join the pirate crew. The reader discovers a sinister plot being concocted by the professor involving his dead wife, his living daughter and Blackbeard. Chandagnac, now known as ‘Jack Shandy’, must put a stop to these plans and save Beth Hurwood.
Sounds like fun. I guess Jack Sparrow is replacing the character of Jack Shandy. So will we see the famous Blackbeard confront Captain Jack Sparrow? I can’t remember if Blackbeard is ever mentioned in the Pirates series at all but it would be cool to see Jack and Blackbeard in the same movie.
To read more HERE
So have any of you readers read this book? How do you feel about the possibility of the story revolving around a quest for the Fountain of Youth?
